Jermall Charlo is a man of multiple locales.

He and twin brother Jermell are Texans by birth. And when it comes to boxing, he's occasionally been compared to one of his idols -- longtime Detroit-based superstar Thomas Hearns.

But come Saturday night in Los Angeles, the 26-year-old is hoping to channel a little Pensacola.

The IBF's champion at 154 pounds will risk his title for the third time against No. 1 contender Julian Williams, in a bout he likens to the inaugural 1993 match between Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins.

The fight will be broadcast by Showtime as part of a two-bout live card that begins at 10 p.m. (ET) and also includes a second-tier WBA featherweight title fight between Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares.

The Charlo-Williams betting lines are almost dead even, with a $125 wager required to turn a $100 profit on Charlo at bovada.lv while a $105 investment is needed for the same windfall on Williams.

"Every fight is a hard fight," Charlo said. "Every fight I have to come out and give my best and be on my A-game. So it's a good fight to me technically. This is the Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins back in middleweight type of fight. We're going to get down and get ready. I'm ready for it. This part of our legacy is everything that I've wanted, growing up as a young fighter, young champion."

A 24-year-old Jones and Hopkins, then 28, were a combined 43-1 with 36 knockouts when they met for the IBF's 160-pound title at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., where Jones won a unanimous decision.

Jones is a native of the Florida panhandle. Hopkins was born in Philadelphia.

Twenty-three years later, Charlo and Williams -- born just 44 days apart in the spring of 1990 -- meld together for a 46-0-1 record with 32 KOs. And Williams, also from Philadelphia, is considered to be Charlo's toughest test to date in a title run that already includes a devastating blowout of Cornelius Bundrage last September and a unanimous defeat of Austin Trout in May.

Williams, in his last bout, stopped Marcello Matano in seven rounds in March. He's slotted seventh in the division by the Independent World Boxing Rankings, four spots behind Charlo in third.

"We're both on the way up to the top level," Charlo said. "He's definitely one of my best opponents up to this date. He's hungry as me. I'm not necessarily worried about any of the things he said about being as hungry as he is to be fighting me. I was that guy, too. Being ready to fight K9 and waiting and waiting. He's my toughest opponent. And I'm ready for it."

Both men, too, are unofficially vying for the spotlight held by Nos. 1 and 2 at 154 - WBO champ Canelo Alvarez and IBO/WBA title-holder Erislandy Lara.

In fact, it's a quest Charlo is quick to point out as motivation.

"(It's a) very big fight, very important fight for me, clinch the division," Charlo said.

"I'm ready to just give everything I have. It's going to be a good fight for me. And it's going to be a good fight for Julian. We both hit it big and we both need to give the fans what they want to see. So, it's that time. I'm not supposed to go and be in some superstar. It's a business. I'm betting and fighting for everything that boxing has to offer. My advantage is being focused and humble and strong-minded like I've always been."